Tent.



Patented Jan. 2, I900. E. L. MUNSON.

T E N T (Application filed Oct. 24, 1899.)

2 Sheets$heet I.

(No Model.)

rm: ncmys PETERS 00., FHmuU'mO, WASHINGTON, n. cy

.No. 640,582. Patented Jan. 2, I900.

E. L. MUNSON.

TENT.

(Application fil ed Oct. 24, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

EDIVARD LYMAN MUNSON, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

TENT.

S PEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,582, dated January 2, 1900.-

Application filed October 24, 1899. Serial No. 734,649. (No model.)

To all whom, it may 007206777}:

Be it known that I, EDWARD LYMAN MUN- SON, of the United States Army, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tents; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my tent; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 3, a cross-section; and Fig. I is a detail view of the ridge-poles, the means for supporting them, and a means for coupling the fly ridgepoles of adjacent tents.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The object of my invention is to provide a tent adapted for military-hospital purposes, but useful also for other purposes, the aim being more particularly to produce a tent suited for tropical or warm climates; and to this end my invention consists in the tent con structedsubstantiallyas hereinafterspecified.

In View of the fact that my improvements have been made with especial reference to military-hospital tents I illustrate my invention as embodied in one of the latter; but it is to be understood that in so doing Ido not restrict my invention to this or to any particular type of tent or use thereof.

The tent proper (shown in the drawings) is a wall-tent A, supported, as usual, by a ridgepole B and vertical poles or posts 0 and O at opposite ends, on which the ridge-pole rests, and has suitable guys or stay-ropes D and D. Over the tent A is a fly E, that is supported wholly above the top of the tent, so that there is an ample air-space at all points between the roof of the tent and the fly. The dimensions of the fly are such that at each end and on each side the fly projects sufficiently beyond the tent to amply shade its ends and sides. The fly rests upon and is supported by a second ridge-pole F, placed above and secured by guys or stay-ropes G and G, at-,

tached to its side edges. The fly ridge-pole is supported from the tent-posts C and C by observed that by supporting the fly ridge- -into and through such space.

pole on the tent-posts thestability of the latter is materially contributed to by the fly, and so much so, in fact, that the customary guy-ropes for said posts may'be dispensed with, the ropes G and G at the corners of the fly serving, with the fly, the purpose of said customary guy-ropes.

In the ridge portion of the tent A there is an opening I, that extends comparatively close to each end of the tent and on each side of the ridge-pole B, being accordingly of large area, and for purposes of support a netting K, which is passed over the ridge-pole B, is secured to the edges of the roof around the opening. As the roof of the tent is inclined or pitched, it is apparent that, though an opening of large area can be provided, there is still left an ample portion of the roof intact, so that the advantages of the two walls formed by the tent proper and the fly are not lost. By the provision of the opening in the .roof of the tent perfect ventilation is secured, not only by reason of the direct upward passage of the air of highest temperature into the space beneath the fly, but also by reason of such natural or induced currents of air as may pass horizontally through the passagelike space between the fly and the roof of the tent, it being apparent that currents of air moving crosswise of the opening I will cause an upward flow of air from within the tent With the ventilating-opening in the ends or sides of the tent instead of the roof not only would this efiect not be produced, but the wind could drive directly into the tent to the danger of sick inmates. Moreover, with the opening in the roof there is complete protection by the fly from rain and sun, and hence under all conditions of weather ventilation can be had without annoyance from the weather,whereas with openings in the tent sides or ends either the openings must be covered, thus impairing ventilation of the tent, or ventilation can only be had at the expense of exposure to the weather. Then, too, by means of the roofopening the interior of the tent is most advantageously lighted, the light coming from the top and softened by its passage through the fly.

Preferably the outside of the fly is made white to reflect the heat, while to prevent The fly ridge-pole is readily removable from the post-extension H and H, and is made of separable sections, so that it may be taken down and reduced in size for transportation.

My tent is very well adapted to and is highly advantageous in the formation of a hospital-ward by the placing of a number of tents end to end in a line. When a ward is thus formed ofanumber of my tents, the edge of the fly of one tent adjoins that of the next one, so that there is provided a covered space between the end walls of the adjacent tents which is open from side to side below the bottom edges of the flies. This space allows free circulation of air, separates the ward into tent-sections, thus facilitating the treatment of readily-communicable diseases by reason of the comparative isolation it affords for the occupants of each tent, and it may be utilized for the recreation of convalescents or the storage of ward property. To especially adapt the tent to ward use, the fly is made somewhat wider at the bottom than at the top, its endsbeing inclined outward from top to bottom to permit the overlapping of the ends of the adjacent flies to avoid gaps or openings between them. Though especially intended for use in warm climates or warm weather, it can be used in cold weather by placing an Ordinary fly over the tent A beneath the flyE upon the tent ridgepole B to cover the ventilating-opening I and pegging it down.

In use my tent has shown a temperature substantially lower than that of tents of ordinary construction, and it has been found that the temperature with its walls down is but little higher than with them up, a property of special value for hospital-tentage because of the desirability and importance of secluding the sick and keeping them free from disturbing outside influences. With its walls down my tent has a temperature at least as low as that of tents of ordinary construction with the walls up.

For connecting the fly ridge-poles of adjoining tents when arranged to form a hospital ward a link Lmay be employed, as shown in Fig. 4:, that is pivoted at one end and to one pole by means of a bolt or pin M and has at its other end a hole that engages a pin N on the adjoining pole. When not used to couple two ridge-poles, the link is swung around upon the pole to which it is pivoted and its hole engaged with a stud or pin 0 on said pole. Each of the pins M and N is prolonged to form a fastening for the fly.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A tent having an opening in its roof, and a fly supported away from the roof, a space being thus inclosed between the fly and roof, and in such relation to the roof-opening that currents of air passing through such space, will pass above and across the roof-opening, substantially as and for scribed.

2. A tent having supporting-posts at each end and a ridge-pole thereon and provided with an opening in the roof in the ridge thereof, a second ridge-pole elevated from the other, and a fly supported by said second ridge-pole, extending over the tent-roof and the opening therein, and beyond the ends of the tent, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A tent having a fly supported away from the roof of the tent, with ends extended beyond the ends of'the tent, and inclined, making the fly wider at the bottom that at the top, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of October, A. D. 1899.

V EDWARD LYMAN MUN SON.

Witnesses:

CHAS. J. WILLIAMSON, HENRY C. HAZARD.

the purpose de-- 

